The first time a commercial #robotic spacecraft captures a government #satellite 🛰️ that is uncrewed and was not originally designed to be serviced 🔧 in space.
#Swift has gradually been losing altitude ⤵️ due to atmospheric drag. On top of that, recent increases in the Sun’s ☀️ activity has caused Earth’s #atmosphere to swell, intensifying drag and speeding up the process https://www.astronomy.com/science/swift-observatory-rescue-mission

#SpaceRobot #SpaceMaintenance #robotics #NASA

With #ESA launching a third initiative in less than a year, it’s clear that in-orbit life extension 🔧⛽ is a priority for the agency https://europeanspaceflight.com/esa-to-launch-in-orbit-refuelling-demonstration-mission

#SpaceMaintenance #DOrbit #RISE

🇨🇳 #Shijian25 is expected to use its robotic arms to latch onto #Shijian21 and replenish its fuel ⛽. The latter used up much of its propellant in 2022 while towing a defunct #BeiDou navigation satellite 🛰️ into a higher graveyard orbit. @planet4589 said the behaviour of the #American 🇺🇸 satellites was highly uncommon. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3314364/chinas-landmark-orbital-refuelling-mission-why-2-us-spy-satellites-hover-nearby

#SpaceMaintenance

#OtterPup2 is intended to dock with a spacecraft 🛰️ that is not prepared for a docking maneuver. To be launched 🚀 next month on board a #Falcon9 https://www.heise.de/en/news/Starfish-Space-plant-Satellite-service-mission-10393369.html

#StarfishSpace #SpaceMaintenance

The #Apollo13 solution of a plastic bag, cardstock, a #spacesuit hose, and #DuctTape https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D0LDbta1IE

Details : https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/conserving-creativity-saved-apollo-13-astronauts

#RedneckEngineering #SpaceMaintenance #RocketScience